The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the appointment of George Dolhai as Director of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC). Formerly the Deputy Director of the PPSC, Mr. Dolhai will replace Kathleen Roussel who has been the Director since June 2017.
Mr. Dolhai was appointed by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Attorney General of Canada. He will assume the role of Director for a term of seven years, beginning June 21, 2024.
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"I am pleased to see George Dolhai appointed to the role of Director of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. Having helped establish the organization when it was created in 2006, and with his extensive experience in public prosecution and policy, he will bring the utmost integrity and fairness to a key role in our justice system."
-The Hon. Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Biography
Mr. George Dolhai received his Bachelor of Law (cum laude) from the University of Western Ontario before completing his Master of Laws at the University of Cambridge in 1992.
Following the completion of his Master of Laws, he became a Federal Crown Attorney at the Department of Justice (JUS) where he specialized in the prosecution of routine and complex criminal litigation. A few years later, Mr. Dolhai transitioned to the role of Counsel in the Strategic Prosecution Policy Section within JUS where he advised senior leadership in matters related to prosecutorial policies and legislative initiatives in relation to criminal law.
In 1999, Mr. Dolhai transitioned to the role of Senior Counsel in JUS's National Security Group where he provided advice on national security matters, and participated in all stages of the development, interpretation and implementation of notable legislation, including the Anti-terrorism Act and the Preclearance Act.
In 2003, George Dolhai was promoted to Senior General Counsel and Director of the Strategic Prosecution and Strategic Operations Sections at JUS, where he provided legal advice to the Attorney General (AG), Deputy AG, and to partner agencies including the RCMP on various criminal law-related issues.
Mr. Dolhai joined the PPSC when it was created in December 2006 as the Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in Canada, eventually assuming the role of Deputy Director in 2012. He was instrumental in establishing and operationalizing the organisation, including the elaboration and management of the PPSC's governance structure.
